Promises Beyond The Veil Of Light ( PT 10 )

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Part Ten

 

Mina pondered her situation, standing in the doorway of the kitchen gazing at a lit up garden sipping some tea, wondering how the lights came on that seemed so bright.

 

A black cat took a quick peek at the girl before necking it over the fence. It had been engrossed in studying something in the undergrowth of some evergreens and was normally the reason for the lights coming on. It was unusual to see someone around at such an early hour.

 

Mina didn't really take that much notice of the feline, her mind was elsewhere. She felt like doing something spontaneous, knowing if she didn't go now there might not be another chance.

 

The darkness was uninviting as the Mina placed the mug down on the kitchen surface, her heart beating so fast she felt it might gallop away.

Mina quickly put on her coat and slung the backpack across her shoulder, heading out the back door she closed it softly behind her.

 

Across the patio and down the path, there was a gate at the bottom of the garden which led out onto a back lane, lifting the latch it creaked as it opened. Mina lifted her hood to cover hair and face as she wandered down. The lane wasn't that long but it still felt creepy to her as if she were being followed.

 

Finally reaching the main road, remembering the address of her mum's friend, Mina proceeded feeling glad she'd not bothered to get undressed for bed. She hated the spotlight being on her and although most of the family seemed friendly, It wasn't that she was ungrateful, but Mina wanted to be near someone who knew her mum well.

 

The early morning air was so different to that of the forest, there were no earthy fragrances or musty smells as she walked the pavements. The brick houses and concrete seemed so drab compared to her world.

 

Mina sighed and yearned to walk along the path to collect water from their family well, to converse with flowers was such a productive job she so enjoyed doing, but now it was just a pipe dream to even think of seeing any of it for along time.

 

Mina noticed a sign in one of the windows of a red brick house, it read:

Good Home Wanted For Six Tabby Kittens. She smiled at the thought of having one, or any other pet for that matter, wishing it were possible but knowing she'd no room for responsibility, Mina could hardly look after herself in this strange world she found herself in, leave alone a kitten.

 

The pavements and roads seemed to go on for ages without any sign of Meadow Cup Close. It was becoming clear that Evie's house was not going to be easy to find, all the streets looked the same to her. Mina wished there was at least one person to ask the way, but as of yet she'd not seen a soul.

 

Looking back along the way she'd just come, Mina started to panic, she'd forgotten the number of the house where she was supposed to be staying. Realizing the only way was forward, she carried on hoping someone would eventually come along.

 

By the time Mina reached a main road, it felt clear to her that she'd taken a wrong turning. Early morning traffic whizzed fast along the carriageway leaving her terrified at the great speeds. The only thing she could do was look for a subway that would take her to the other side.

 

Massive trucks roared passed, they seemed like terrifying giants to Mina. Chewing on her bottom lip, but not even realizing she was doing it, a huge concrete factory building loomed up ahead, it appeared to almost touch the sky line or so it seemed to Mina.

 

Nearing the main gates a stubby man in an orange jacket appeared holding a clipboard and directing lorries, he reminded Mina of the short stout oak tree that stood close to their cabin in the forest, his role-poly belly seemed to standout so much so that Mina wondered if he could see his feet.

 

She struggled to smile wanting to cry but held back tears. Standing at the open barrier Mina waited, too afraid to utter a word, her mother had taught her not to speak to strangers, but this was a different situation, she hoped he wasn't a bad man and could tell her the way.

 

Within a few short moments the man noticed the solitary girl. He wasn't used to children hanging around the factory gates, especially so young and so early in the morning. “Can I help you love?” He inquired as he approached her.

 

Mina became unsure of herself. “Um...I'm trying to find Meadow Cup Close.” She whispered so quietly with her head down, that the man hardly understood her.

 

“You'll have to speak up love. Now what was it you wanted to know?” He bent down closer to her face.

 

Mina shook her hair forward so it almost covered her face feeling the skin on her cheeks start to burn, the girl knew she was blushing which made it even more uncomfortable. This was no good. Without a word she ran away not stopping for another moment, but just craving for the ground to open up and take her away.

 

There didn't seem to be any logical reason for not speaking up, but in this world all Mina's confidence had gone and she felt unsure of the man and didn't like him calling her love, only her dad was aloud to call her that and it made the girl nervous and fidgety.

 

Running fast even with her backpack along the pavement Mina came to a path discovering it led down to a subway. She could hear water so knew there must be a river near by. As she began walking down the sloping path, all kinds of thoughts went through her mind, convinced someone was following her, yet scanning around she could only see fields to one side, the factories behind and the roar of traffic.

 

At the bottom of the path a tunnel seemed dark and eerie. The echo of thundering traffic added to the sense of foreboding that had Mina's heart racing, she hated the reverberation as the tunnel seemed to tremble.

 

Mina thought about her mum and how angry she'd feel at her decision to leave the house, but then the notion that she wouldn't be in this mess if mum was still alive came into her already confused mind. “No, I'm on my own now, I must be brave.” Putting one foot in front of the other, she began walking faster and faster until running as if her life depended on it.

 

Now at the other end Mina stopped and gazed back along the tunnel, nobody seemed to be following leaving her sighing with relief but out of breath and just glad to be making a way up the other side. Mina could cope with anything back in the forest where senses were usually always heightened, but here her head was all over the place and to be honest she wasn't sure of anything.

 

Outside of the forest surroundings, school was the only place she did understand with its many corridors and classrooms that were familiar. But being here and having no idea where she was made school seem easy.

 

Mina wished that friend Mia were here now, she'd probably know what to do. Although she'd been to her friend's house many times, Mina had no idea how to get there from where she was. All these thoughts were making the girl feel weary as she carried on walking, traffic seemed to fade into the distance which became a numbing sound.

 

After walking some way, Mina came to a road leading into a housing estate, there were also blocks of flats surrounded by grass verges. A woman came from around the side of a house dressed in beige pajamas and matching gown with pink slippers, she was holding a carrier bag. Mina watched as she placed rubbish into a big wheelie bin, wondering if this was her opportunity to find out the address she was looking for.

 

Approaching the gate Mina called out. “Please, can you help me?”

The woman glanced back over her shoulder to see the child standing alone and headed towards her feeling concerned. “Yes dear, what is it?”

 

Mina hesitated exhausted with all the wandering. “I wonder if you could tell me where to find Meadow Cup Close?” Mina could tell immediately that the woman had no idea by the puzzled expression on her face.

 

“Meadow Cup Close you say? Um, well.” The woman paused to think, then nodded her head. “Sorry I've no idea. Can't say I've ever heard of the place, you sure you're in the right neighborhood? Only I've lived her a good many years and know most of the streets, but not that one.”

 

Mina's heart sank nearly crying,  but she didn't want the woman seeing her sobbing. “Okay, thanks anyway.”

 

“Are you sure you're okay dear?” The woman asked seeing the bewildered expression on Mina's face.

 

“Yeah, I'm fine.” She turned and walked away, not bothering to check if the woman was still standing there.

 

The lady shrugged her shoulders, rubbed her hands together and pursed her lips nodding in puzzlement, before turning and walking back around the side of her house, hearing the commotion of her own kids getting ready for their day at school.

 

Mina had a sick feeling in her stomach, she didn't want to go back to the foster home, but without any idea where she was going it left an empty, lost feeling. Her environment became difficult to cope with, fear seemed to lurk around every corner as she struggled back along the pavement she'd just walked.

 

The sun was now up and sparkling as Mina traced her steps back to the approaching tunnel. A soft breeze picked up across some fields off in the distance. She convinced herself that crossing those fields might lead her back to the forest, having no idea just how big the world actually was outside of where she'd lived for the past ten years of her life. The open grass and the trees in the distance seemed to look more familiar than the concrete structures and houses.

 

Climbing over some barbed wire gave Mina a feeling that home wouldn't be too far away. Clouds appeared casting shadows across the damp open field, she could smell the fragrance of fresh grass conveying that home was just across the wasteland that was rather more muddy than she'd expected. It was a sidetrack taking the girl away from her fears but for the fact that her boots were getting very wet.

 

Mina felt so exposed in such open proximity and was glad when she reached the other side, but became disappointed only to find another road. Things seemed to be going from bad to worse without another person in sight. Climbing over yet another barbed wire fence Mina noticed this road didn't seem so busy, in fact there wasn't any traffic at all.

 

Across the road was a park, much like the one her and Mia hung out in at school lunch break. There were swings and a slide, but this park was surrounded by woodland trees, Mina could just glimpse houses and back gardens through the branches.

 

I need to sit down! She thought to herself heading off towards the swings. With a deep exhalation Mina dropped her backpack and plonked herself down beginning to kick off into a swing, moving too and fro getting higher and higher. The breeze felt good on her face as she lent back feeling like the branch of a tree swaying this way and that.

 

After a while Mina had enough. Slowing down and coming to a stop she felt hungry realizing she'd not eaten anything that morning. Sadness again crept up and smothered her like a dark cloud enfolding all her thoughts. Tears began to fill her eyes just thinking of never seeing or hearing from her mum again.

 

A wooden park bench to her left seemed like an inviting reminder of her dad's wooden creations, though this one was a lot posher than the ones in the forest that her dad made from old logs and tree trunks. “Think I'll just have a lie down, I'm feeling so tired,” she whispered to herself.

 

Picking up her bag she made her way over and lay down on the bench, curling up and gazing out across at the trees. “I wonder if there's an oak tree over there! I could do a spell to find my way back to the foster home if there was.” She mumbled under her breath.

 

Turning onto her back Mina gazed up at the sky, she felt the bitterness of the morning air suddenly taking a hold of her and pulled the hood of her coat back up, using her backpack as a pillow. “It's going to be a long cold Winter, I know the foster family will be my only hope of surviving, so I suppose I will need to go back, if only I can find my way. Mina had no idea what to do, she'd lost all senses and felt hopeless, scared and alone.

 

To be continued...